San Juan scraps dousing for Wattah Wattah

MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City will ditch water dousing for this year’s Wattah Wattah Festival as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, Mayor Francis Zamora said yesterday.

He made the announcement as he signed Executive Order 42 that suspends the traditional basaan or water dousing festivities that draw thousands of residents and tourists yearly.

The religious festival is observed on the nativity of the city’s patron saint, John the Baptist, on June 24. Yearly, the festival culminates in a parade of dozens of fire trucks, each one dousing participants with free-flowing water.

This year, two six-wheeler trucks would carry the image of the saint as city officials and priests sprinkle holy water on residents and devotees.

“A solemn celebration of the feast of San Juan will be observed (today), June 24. It is a very important celebration, especially considering that it has been more than three months since residents have last gone to church. That’s why despite the pandemic, we have decided to push through the celebration of the feast of our patron saint,” Zamora said in a statement.